Automatic oil-switch.



UNITED sTATEs PATENT orinoii.A

HENRY L. SMITH, or scHENEcTADY, NEW YORK, AssIeNoR To oENERALELEcTRrc compania, A CORPORATION or NEW YORK.

To til-Z whom it may concemf Be it known that I, HENRY L. Sarrrii, a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, count;7 of Schenectady, State of New York, have invented certain neuTl and useful Improvements in Automatic Gil- Switches, of which the following is a speci.

` fication.

This invention relates to oil switches of the type disclosed by discloses an oil switch opened either by hand or automatically; the automatic releasing means acting upon a catch which-1s released by hand when it Ais desired -to' open` the switch. As a result of this arrangement it is 'impossible to tell from the appearance 'of the switch when open Whether it was `opened automatically or opened by hand.

Furthermore the switch shown in said patent 'may be held closed by the operator,'= although there is an overload upon the,

circuit In' carrying out my invention I provide between the handle of the switch and the operating mechanism by which the switch contactsare moved a normally positive collapsible connection so arranged that under mally positive connection to free the handle from the operating mechanism, and thereby alter the relation between the handle and the operating mechanism. s la result of this arrangement the relation rof the parts to each other is different when the switch has opened automatically from the position assumed when the lswitch is opened by hand, and as the handle is disconnected when' there is an overload upon the circuit, the switch cannot be held closed on overload by means of the handle.

The object of the present provide a switch of simple and cheap constructi-onwhich may be opened by hand'or automatically and which will indicate by the A position ofthe parts how it was opened;

which' will 'trip' freev from :the closing means Specification of Letters Patent.V

me in United States i Patent 839,788, December Q5, 1906, which invention is to AUTOMATIC OILTSYVITCH.

as soon as the'contacts touch if there is an overload upon the. circuit, and which cannot be held closed as long as there is an overand reliable stop ,to prevent the movable contacts from striking the bottom of the oil dan; and in general to improve the construction of switches of this type as will be more specificallypointed out in the claims.

in whieh- Figure 1 is a view partly showing the switch inthe closed position; Fig. 2 isla similar view showing the position assumed .when the switch is open; and Fig. 3 a view of a detail of the switch. l Y The switch shown in thedrawings is in- ;tended. to,control a :three-phase circuit and Ii's mounted upon a suitable panel o r support l.; A' frame 2 isproiided, preferably made of pressed steel, and this frame is held to the carries a vr#base 4 of slate, soapstone or other ductor o'f heat. ThreeI pairs of fixed conheld in position by means of nuts G engaging the upper ends of the contacts. The base 4 is not indiictively7 affected by alternating current 4flowing through the contacts', and does not become heated, as a metallic base would. The lower ends of the fixed contacts carry contact fingers supported by means vof spring-blades. Bridging contacts8 are. provided means of which the circuit is closed between each pair of fixed contacts. The bridging contacts are carried upon supsulating material, and the.upper ends of the rods are secii'redto a yoke 10 which carries a plate 11. An oil can'12, preferably of metal and provided with 'a lining 13 of in- Aframe 2 in engagement with the base 4.

having stops 19 mounted upon the .pin 15; .the other end 1R load upon the circuit; to provide a simple l insulating material which is also a non-contacts 5 are carried by the base 4, being firmly:

porting rods 9 of wood or other' similar insulating material, is firmly secured to the` Patented Dec.3,1912.

Application led May 17, '1906. Serial No. 317,310.v

l The invention will best be understood in connection with the accompanying drawings' in section f panel l ineans of bolts 3. 'The frame That part of frame 2 neXt t0 panel 1 cari ioof A stop 17 in the -for'm of a bell-crank lever on one l'end thereof, is105- hand'lever is connected to the arm-24 of the ff.' of the belhcrankfleven engages they-frame The lever-16 carries a c onnecting-pin 20 by meansl of which the lever is attachedV to the plate 11 and also'has at one end a slot 21 in which a pin 22 moves. The pin 22 is carried 1n Athe end of one arm 23 ofa bellcrank lever mounted upon a lpin 25 which is carried in a.'v standard 26 secured to the frame 2.

. The arm`23 and the lever 16 form an operat-v .ing mechanismfor tliegswitch similar to that disclosed in the application above referred to.

1 ."A hand'lever27 is4 mounted-uponl the ,pivot I A 25 which-forms a pivotal connect-ion between l toggle is collapsible connection between the'hand le-' 2'5 Athe hand lever and thebellvcrank lever. The

lbell-crank lever by means of a toggle come posed of a link 28 pivoted to the a'rm 24 'and pin .31 when the toggle is slightly overset. s a result of this arrangement, when the slightly overset'there is a rigid but ver 27 and thearm24 ofthe bellfcrank' lever; ,which-,connectiom however, may be broken by breaking the toggle.l The supportl or frame 2 ,is horizontal, and an upward .'.movement of the handle 27 oversets the togltacts presses piace ,his weight upon the handle if necessary to 'force the switchclosed. A' latch '32 gle and locks the handle iirmly to theopermechanism by means of .which the conare Ilifted'fupward into circuit closing position. In closing the switchv the operator the h'andle27 downward, andl canl i's-pivoted to the frame 2` and has' a 'hook 33 andl a -handle' 4. The hook 33 engages a latch-pin 35 carried by the hand lever l27 for the purpose of holding the hand lever in thev position shown in Figs. 1 and2'. The hook v "the handle 34.'

the 'supporting yoke 39 which carries a tubui' -lar member 40'prov1ded with as'lot having .apertures 41, themdiameter of Vwhich is coni siderably greater than `the width-of the slot.

A locking'plug 42 of substantially ythe same diameter as the apertures 41 is provided and this plug is arranged to engage a pin 43 carried the core`37. When the plug 42 is inserted' in one of the 'apertures 41 andjis at the same time in engagementwith the pin, 43, the core`37is locked in position and does notrespond tothe overload'coil 36. v-A cali-A bratingscrew 44 is carried the core 37 and trip thev switch open.A Y.

29 pivoted to the hand lever-27.l `The link 29 has 'a heel 30 which engages al stop 'tomatically. If itbe `direction of, the arrow 'this screw the Vposition of core 37finfrelation :to 'the coil '36 may. be varied, Ithereby vary-I ing the" amount of' current required-to lift .v

The operaticn-"is'as follows z--VVhenthe switch is closed-` the parts are ini-the position shown in Fig. l, andthe toggle 28, 29-being` cverset forms a positive connection between the hand lever 27 anl the arm24. .As are- 7 sult of this connection the hand lever .27 and the bell-crank lever 23, 24form a rigid lever which swings about the'pivot 25' asa ful- Crum. If it is desired to open the switch by hand, the handle 34 is moved upward, there-` E by 4moving the hook 33 outof engagement with the .latch-pin 35, permitting the hand lever 27 .and the-.bell-crank-lever tofsvving about the v'pivot 25, and the 'switch opens.'

if, however, .while the switch is closed ani voverload should occur .upon.thecircuit,`the

coil` 36 isV energized sufficiently to attract the core 37. and bring'it into engagement-with .the .trip-pin 3 8. The trip-pin is r'aisedinto engagement'with the lower surfacebt-the l toggle `link 28, thereby breaking the-toggle 28,-.4 29, and causingtheccnnection.between the hand lever 27 and-'the arm 24j'to b e broken. The hand lever is `locked .in posi' tion and the switch is held closed 'because the tendency of the bell crank 23,. 24to Vmove on its pivot isresi'sted by the overset toggle 29, having one-end secured to the hand lever, and when Athetoggle breaks the switch opens Vowing to the weight of the bridging contacts Sand the rods 9 and the partsassume the position shown in Fig.A 2.' "The lever"16 moves 4downward into engagement with thestops 19 on'the-bell-crank lever 17'A and' theend; 18 of the bell-crank lever'comes vinto Vengagement lwith .the frame. v2,y thereby forming a positive lock which preventsl ur' ther downward' movement of the -lever 16 andstops the bridging contacts 8 in position sho'wn 1n dotted llnes in Fig.`1.' Owing to gthecollapse of the toggle 28, 29..t.l' i e. downward movement of the bridging'contacts Sis permitted without ,alterationin the position of the hand lever,27, whichremains locked bythe latch 32 inthe position shown in Fig.- 2. 'When the'attendant see's the parts of, the switch in the position shown in Fig. v2, he knowsy thatfthe switch-has `been opened al1- desired toclose the .27 is moved in the b in Fig. 2, thereby straightening the-toggle 28, 29, it as# sumes an overset position as shown lnFlg.

switch, the hand lever 3. The result ofthis movementisl to'establish a positive connection between the 'hand lever 27 and the varm 24, and therefore when the hand lever 27 is moved inthe direction ,'of the bythe1ewerend fswitchf elements :assume arrowa in Fig'. 1, the bell-crank 'lever ismoved about its pivot, caus 4the the posltron -Yhownin FiglWhen SIW-itch is closed the' catch32 enga-,gresl the-la'tch-pin 35- end the Switch is held' closed ssh'ovn in 'F.g'. 1.. Y Many changesV 41nd .alteretions may'l .be

5'v 1` made 1in the form in I'which myiny'ention is` c and I-,t-herefore dene-t wish@ be.-

15.' having'one arm connected to vsaid element, e

n rm 'connected t'oseid element, epivot` for said llover, f ain -operatinghandle mounted on said1 pivo't, a nopmally' 4positive collap'suible v.connection between sg'ld handle and the-,other 'sadeonnectiom """i'n ofs'ai'd leverand means for; collapsing 'l .3." An electl'lv switch compnising'a bese, a pivot carriedby Saud base, a.bell-crank'opel'.-l

pivot for 'said-1 lever, .an operating handle mounted on'sla'id pivot, 'and nloc'king toggle l' sla'dvhndle with the other Inrn'y1 j wcollapsible connection. g 2., electric SW-itch 'comprising a mow. ..1 able' e'len'lent; 'a bell-crank lever-having* oneating'handle mounted onv said pivot, a. conf tact .movable .et right nglesto s'aid base',- connections between one' ern'1 .-of seid' .1eYer and y,said .-colitalt, e `t ggle connection .'be-

,and engaging saidl handle,l lend.' 'means for breaking suid'toggleconnection. .l J `A l "4.' In anoil synch, ahorizontalesupport, .anbpereting "gym for eloeiinlr' seid `swli'oli '40 fv/vhehf movedI upward? un operating-handlehaying connection with said imm, 2L-"colla si l"r'u'xe'ction' betwensmid arm".

, 'collapsed posit' upward .mo'sfen'lent of .45 "the handle, Wherebyfdownwad 'movement l fof said 'hndlez ausee an upward-movement of said arm, and meansjfolj collapsing seid' ,5. ln.nmelectricjsyyitch,'a' support, en op-' 50 erating erm,I a pivotfon lsaid .support for sald.l

arn1,"a'nd a. StopleVe mounted (nr-Said pi'vot 'having one end enggingsaid orma-nd the' l lotherend engaging the support.

hand this'l'tllvdey-of'May. 1906..

. f HENRY L. SM1-TH.

Witnesses;-v v

f BENJAMIN B." gl-IUILL,

' ting lever'fmounted onsaid pinot'jenfoper- -1 tween .the other arm of the lever endtheopf; erating handle, 'alatch mounted on the heee.

In Wltness whereof', 'lhavefheeunto -seti.'y 55 l' 

